Differential flotation separator



W. H. PECK.

DIFFERENTIAL FLOTATION SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1921.

Patented June 2% 1922.

WM HP v DIFFERENTIAL FLOTATION SEPARATORI.

application filed July ac,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that l, WILBUR H. Peon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Difi'erential Flotation Separators, which ll desire to designate as a Differential Flotation Separator; and,

in the main, such invention consists of means embodying or comprising rotatable cells with certain necessary cooperating facilit adapted to employ in separation of suc minerals suitable flotation emulsion, com-- prising water and appropriate oils, acids, or other reagents, and at the same time to operate in conjunction with the action of centrifugal force to efiect a relative division or differential separation of such particles.

To effectuate the above ends, l have devised my invention which mainly consi'stsin the relative association of means and mecha nism by which the floating energy of flotation emulsion on the mixed particles of different degrees of specific gravity, can be ccordinated with the energy of centrifugal would effect such separation.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is partly a vertical transverse central section, and partly an outside elevation of my concentrating apparatus.

Fig. 2 is mostly a top plan of the rotatable parts shown in Fig. 1, somewhat reduced in size.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, on line 3, 8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

in making my improved concentrating apparatus, T have in this instance employed an annular rotatable vessel 2, adapted to contain a body of flotation emulsion, or liquid flotation medium, while in operation, and to serve the purpose of aflotation cell in differential separation of normally flotable mineral particles of different degrees of specific gravity.

The vessel 2, which I will herein term a cell, is made of form and size to serve the purposes required, as illustrated in the drawing. llt is provided with a bottom por- Speclfication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1922..

rear. aerial in. 488,238.

tion through which it is mounted on a vertical shaft 3, by which it is supported and may be rotated. i

The shaft is journaled at its-up er end in a box 4;, attached to a supporting frame 5, which at its lower extremit is mounted on a part 6, which serves as t e base plate of the separator. The lower end of the shaft is laterally maintained by a journal box '7, of suitable type, adapted also to serve at a step bearing for the lower end of theshaft to bear the vertical weight of the same with its superimposed burden. Theshaft is provided with a pulley 8, through which rotation may be imparted.

The upper, or top end of the cell is partly closed, leaving a central opening 9, of

the outer partly closed circumferential portion of the vessel serving as the separating cell wherein, during operation, the flotation emulsion or liquid medium is maintained by the energy of centrifugal force, with a substantially'free and unobstructed surface or wall facing the axis of rotation and ap-- proximately parallel to it, allowing such free movement of the floated material on said surface as is necessary.

Within the vessel adjacent to the inner surface of its circumferential wall or peripheral bottom, but a comparatively short distance from the same,-lt have provided a mat 10, which is formed of suitable fabric desired size, as indicated in the drawings,

pervious to air under pressure, leaving or forming a chamber 11, between said bottom or wall of the vessel and the outer wall of the mat. The mat is held to place partly by wire netting 12, and partly by vertical supporting pieces 13, Fig. 3, in number and positioned to maintain the mat in proper place during operation.

Within the cell 1 have located annular rings or baffles 14;, of desired width or size, so their outer diameters will be somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the mat 10, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and so their inner diameters will be a desired distance under the surface 'of the flotation emulsion within the cell when the same is in operation. The normal surface or inner wall of this emulsion when in ordinary conditions or inner wall of operation, is inditill lltiti 1 Walls of the bowl'are feed pipes 20, with I l a means for supplying air or suitable Fig. 1. I have also provided vertical 14 supported in the cell as shown.

v Both the bafile's 14;, and 14', serve'tomaintain thepemulsion in synchronous rotation 6 with the rotating cell during operation, as

well as to assist in deflecting and guiding the flow of' such emulsion properly through the cell;

I have also provided anannular ring or diaphra cell, positioned a short distance from its top, v as shown in Fig. 1,;which extends somewhat nearer the axis of 'i'otationof the cell than the normal surface of the emulsion, and also considerabl below such surface to a position near t e mat, leaving, however, a pas-' sage between its outer diameter and the mat, through which feed material for separation and the emulsion may pass into the more active separating part or zone of the cell. This diaphragm, together with the top portion of the cell, forms a feed chamber 17, located between these two parts.

Centrally mounted above the upper end of the shaft is a feed bowl 18, havin a 'closed'bottomanda partly open top. he bowl'is attached to the vessel bya part or arm 19, so that it isheld in position and rotated with the vessel.

Radiating-from the lower part of the side their outer ends extending into the feed chamber 17, .to agpoint preferably below the normal surface of the flotation emulsion while -in operation, and as means for introducing emulsion laden with mixed mineral 7 ,particles to beseparated, I have provided a a 'feedpipe 21,;with one of its ends extending i into the open part of the feed bowl, This feed pipe .may have its opposite end con-- nectedwith. any suitablesource of supply of material and emulsion tob'e operated on, -The' diaphragm 16, is held in position to s the top of the, bowl by the .two parts.

gas-to the flotation ce s for aerating, the

- "emulsion during operation,I providea rotatable pipe 23, as specially shown in Fi 5 0 1, passing down into the bowllwhere-it dij ,ver S into' branch pipes-{24, which {IeSPeCE-f *tive y extend out to the outer'circumference .of-the cell anddown along-its outer circumference. These pipes .arejconnected 'at 2a' cnnnecu gwiihxthe p pew h anyvsuia herl relnains fixed;

16, in the upper portion of the- -,opening towards the axis enabling t spouts 36 and 37,

stays 22, connecting I withthe chamber 11, under-the mat,*wh'ereby "airmaylbe introduced into such chamberfll, ,and-driyen through'th'e mat. have'p'ro -"videdjaffixed}. ipe-a5, which-"communicates glesource 'o'fzairorgas supply 7 underf II'press'ure.- =;fi These". Pip are. joined 1 J through the m edium' of an ordinary swivel r connectioii'- 26 5' enabling the one. to berotaabawhi e r I war n ffthe'mat; mum'feeliiisi stopped ofla short distance below the bottom-ofthe cell,'formin'g an annular, pocket 27, from which discharge pipes 28, radiate for discharge of heavier particles of mineral.

it and the-bottom of the cell, as illustrated in Fig, 1. This ring or ledge has a central openingof diameter slightly; greater then-v the desired normal level or surface of the emulsion in the cell, approximately parallel with the axis while in operation, thereby providing an overflowor discharge passage,

rated lighter minerals, carried by the froth, to flow over thisedge of the ring and into e sepathe chamber 30, from whence it will'pass through suitable discharge pipes 31, which communicate with thechamber 30,. as illustrated in Fig. 1. This ring also maintains the surface or level of the emulsion in the cell at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation.

As means for catching the respective differentiallyseparated materials and emulsion discharged fromthe pipes 28 and 31, I provide a. housing 32, ,having an annular partition 33 and annular openings 34 and 35, in radial alignment with the pipes 28 and 31, so that material discharged from these pipes will be caught in thehousing 32,"and may then be delivered therefrom through attached to said housing, for final disposition.

In operation of my concentrator, the concentrating cell or vessel is rotated at a speed sufiicient to effect the differential separation and other purposes desired, ordinarily at a mineral particles being treated in it.

During this time flotation emulsion suit-' articles WhlCll it isdesired speed to develop approximately an average 7 centrifugal force of 3 on the emulsion and to separate, is owed into the feed bowl 18, through the I ipe 21, from any suitable source of supply, t e quantity .of such feed being such that the body of emulsion which will'a'ccumula-te in the cell, will be sufiicient which rise to the surface largelyin thelnature of froth,1to flow downward overflthe v During this time air "or suitable gasfor to maintain the surface of the emulsion in direction towards the axis, to a level orposi- I ,tion. that will enable a part of the emulsion with .the separated lighter mineral particles aeratingior,equivalently eflecting the emul chamber 11", under the mat 10, whenceit'is ion in thegcelhis introduced'by the pipe 25,- hwith, its-fintermediate connect1ons, into the y other parts of the cell, it is subjected to the.

' a degree,

, or close to the inaoaeav forced up through the mat into and through the emulsion in the cell, in finely divided curvward, largely between the outer edges of the annular baflies 14, and the inner surface of the mat 10, where, as well as in vigorous energy of the aerated emulsion to collectively raise and float the mineral particles. b

This floating force or energy of the aerated emulsion during this time is being opposed by the action of centrifugal force, which acts to drive the particles outward in opposing lines to the inward floatin energy, and should be develo ed to sue through rotation of t e cell, as to eflectively resist or overcome the floating energy on the desired to prevent from being floated, but not of suilicient intensity to overcome the floating energy on the lighter particles, which it is desired to float, thereby precipitating the heavier particles, while permitting flotation of the lighter to the surface of the emulsion, and resulting in difl'erential separation of these materials.

lhe heavier particles which are driven outward against the floating energy of the emulsion, gradually pass downward along,

surface of the mat, being assisted by the action of gravitation and the flow of emulsion towards the lower end of the cell, as well as by the disturbing current of air or gas through the mat, and are discharged through the pipes 27, into the housing 32, from whence they are flowed for final disposition through the pipe 36..

it will be understood that the feed to the cell through medium of the pipe 21, and its associated parts, and the size of discharge opening in the ipe 28, will be proportioned to maintain t e desired accumulation of emulsion within the rotating cell.

in my application for process of diflerential separation of normally flotable materials by combined flotation energy and energy of centrifugal force, filed July 20, 1921, Serial Number d86237, l have disclosed and claimed said process, but do not claim the main features of the apparatus for carrying such process into effect, which are shown and claimed in this application.

What I re ard as new and desire to secure by Letters atent, is,

l. in a differential flotation separator, a rotatable vessel adapted to contain a liquid flotation medium during operation and to maintain such medium in position with a heavier particles which it is neath the substantially unobstructed flotation surface facing in direction of the axis of rotation, and to serve as a cell in diflerential separation of normally flotable mineral particles of diiferent degrees of specific ravity through simultaneous energy of the fl otation medium and centrifugal energy on said particles, operating in diametrically opposing lines, in combination with rotatable means adapted to supply pneumatic agitatin currents from the peripheral bottom of said cell and means adapted to support and rotate the vessel, substantially as described.

2. In a diflerential flotation separator, a rotatable vessel adapted to contain a liquid flotation medium 'during operation and to serve as a cell in diflerential separation of normally flotable mineral particles of different degrees of specific gravity by simultaneous energy of the flotation medium and of centrifugal ener on said particles in diametrically opposing lines, while at the same time maintaining said medium in the vessel with a surface free for floated ma terial, in direction of the axis, in combination with means adapted to su port and rotate the vessel, means for supp ying said flotation medium and material. for separation to the vessel, a pervious member in said cell adjacent to its peripheral bottom, and rotatable means for pneumatically agitating said flotation medium in the vessel during operation, communicating with the cell beervious member, substantially as described 3. in a difl'erential flotation separator, a rotatable vessel adapted to contain flotation emulsion during operation, and serve as a cell in diflerential separation of normally flotable mineral particles through simultaneous energy of a liquid flotation medium and centrifugal energy on said particles in opposing lines, while at the same time maintaining said medium with a surface for floated material in direction of the axis of rototion, in combination with means adapted to maintain said surface a predetermined distance from the axis and to aflord a discharge passage for floated material, means adapted to support and rotate the vessel,

means for supplying said medium with the till till

lilti operation through a rotatable conduit passing'through the wall of the feed receptacle and communicating under saidpervious member and means for dischar 'ng the differentially separated materials om the cell,

substantially as described.

WILBUB. H. PECK. 

